MIXED-USE HOUSING RONSTADT TRANSIT CENTER|DOWNTOWN TUCSON
GROUP MEMBERS: SEAN DEMARS SASHA RAMOS
OPEN PUBLIC SPACE WALKABILITY DENSITY HOUSING RETAIL TRANIST ORIENTED MEETING PLACE DOWNTOWN
DESCRIPTION A 7- story mixed-use apartment complex and boutique hotel with 211 units for lease on 6th Avenue. In addition to over 9,000 sqft of retail space, the project also includes a public underground parking garage and new mid-block public plaza. The project enhances a strong pedestrian access between Congress St and 6th Avenue with access to the Tucson Modern Streetcar, further activating the plaza. The building is designed with the vibrant culture of the downtown area in mind with large public amenities including flexible retail space that can extend into the plaza. Ronstadt Plaza is a transit oriented development that ultimately will provide more density and presence to the area.
OPERABLE PANELS The operable shading panels help shade against the harsh summer sun and are operable by each individual unit to allow for flexibility amongst users as well as functioning as an ever changing facade to the building.
area map
PURPOSE FOR TRIPS DOWNTOWN REGULAR RIDERS
Current land use in the area
site + area map
PURPOSE FOR TRIPS DOWNTOWN EXPRESS RIDERS
TOP 3 DESIRES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Current bus congestion
Purpose Developing alternative visions for the future of the current Ronstadt Transit Center of Tucson to help the community visualize the range of possibilities for the site. We explored, economic development, urban design ideas, and program potential for one of the most significant downtown sites. Why is it significant? It is near one of the main gateways into Downtown Tucson(6th street underpass) and well as being close to the train depot where lots of passengers travel through by train. The south end of the site is the most active street in Downtown Tucson for food, retail, and entertainment as well as it being along the newly developed modern street car line. This redevelopment could also create many more job opportunities. The Major Players We sat down with officials at the City of Tucson (Dept. of Transportation)as well as members of partnerships (Downtown Tucson Partnership), local developers, civic leaders, independent property owners, architects, landscaper architects, urban planners, and the Bus Riders Union to provide a basis for design solutions. This is how the transit oriented development design came about. According to the Urban Land Use Institute, this area would benefit from small scale flexible retail and more housing. There is the potentially of 275 more people living downtown on this site. We concluded that 200-300 units per acre is the desired number of density and 211 units per acre achieved.
JULIA WEATHERSPOON- SAMPLE WORK
URBAN INFILL RONSTADT PLAZA